FOX's latest game show The Moment of Truth is not only attracting a lot of viewers but also having the latter ask a lot of questions. Is it faked? Are the contestants actors? Are they really telling the truth? After watching the premiere a few weeks ago (I watched two episodes in total), I particularly wanted to know the impact appearing on the tell-all show had on the contestants' lives. One of TV Guide's reporters decided to seek the truth for us about the lie-detector show.
The article lists seven interesting facts about the show, mostly answering my question about the aftermath. Here are a few:
- To come up with the questions asked to contestants, producers thoroughly interrogate friends and family members. However, the show has to follow FCC rules so they cannot ask anything they want.
- So far, no contestants have been fired because of what they revealed when sitting in The Moment of Truth's chair. That's surprising because some contestants admitted to stealing, changing credit card bills, etc. But TV Guide says that this "no firings" streak could change after the episode featuring Aaron Dunbar airs. The 22-year-old EMT "admitted to falsifying patients' medical reports and to not recording vital signs as often as he should," reports the magazine. Dunbar doesn't believe he'll be fired, claiming "it had no effect on the patients' care." Can anyone else hear lawyers preparing lawsuits against Dunbar?
- Dunbar may regret appearing on the show because after taping his girlfriend Nicole broke up with him. Supposedly, they patched things up after three months apart.
- The show has helped some of the contestants patch things up with their family members. George Ortuzar (an actor and gambler) and his son are closer than ever. Ortuzar "had been estranged from his son for seven years because his ex-wife told the kid he'd gambled away his college fund. "When asked on the record if he had indeed lost the college money, Ortuzar's truthful 'No' vindicated him," reports TV Guide.
Another interesting fact about the show, especially if you are a The Bold and the Beautiful fan, is that the woman's voice who reveals if the answer is true or false is that of Tasia Valenza, who played Suzanne for a few episodes of Bold.
The article doesn't offer answers to all of our questions but does help shed some light on the show. It would be interesting if the show included footage from the lie detector sessions.
The Moment of Truth airs Wednesdays on FOX.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-10-2008 @ 12:16PM
Oreo said...
I don't know why anyone would go on this show.
If you have any doubt in your mind you could come up as lying. The whole thing is a joke, but then again it's on Fox.
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2-10-2008 @ 1:02PM
Tristan said...
Its such a great show to watch after AI and before the Fox News at 10, I kind of enjoy it. So Suspenseful!!!!
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2-10-2008 @ 2:32PM
Doug Nelson said...
So is watching your toaster.
2-10-2008 @ 2:34PM
Richie said...
Even the best of lie detectors aren't always right. With techniques like meditation, extreme focus, etc., it's possible to fool the things a polygraph bases its readings off of - your pulse, blood pressure, respiration, etc.
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2-10-2008 @ 6:44PM
D-Bo said...
Lie detectors are fools science: https://antipolygraph.org/pubs.shtml
But the show is entertaining nonetheless.
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2-11-2008 @ 4:29AM
eugene said...
hey, you gotta respect people who are willing to air out their dirty laundry, hurt friends, family members, their empolyeers and the people around them all on national television, for a quick buck. That sort of selfish and blatant disregard for the people in your life is hard to come by.
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2-11-2008 @ 9:16AM
Zach said...
I was flipping through the channels the day after the premiere, and I saw the first contestant that they had on a commercial for an ab roller or something.
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2-11-2008 @ 9:27AM
Aj said...
If I recall, the first guy was an ex football player and is currently employed as a personal trainer, so it isn't surprising he'd be on an ab roller commercial.
2-11-2008 @ 7:36PM
Riley Freeman said...
im sorry 500k is not a quick buck. unfortunately in the u.s. ur gorvernment rapes ur winnings and takes i think 40% or something sowhatever u get is not as nice unlike canada where they only tax the interest earned on it.
anyway the show is entertaining the friends should keep their mouth shut and not air out their business and they wouldnt have these questions to ask. but u know what anyone that wins 500k i bet u allthose hurt friends and family members will forgive u to get a piece of that change
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2-13-2008 @ 12:52AM
Eludium-Q36 said...
Self-serving Blather of a Show
This show mainly gives its contestants a forum for clearing up relationship issues, allowing them to set the record straight for friends and family. But when the questioning gets tough or very personal then everything is stopped because someone either pushes the Stifle Question button or the contestant just quits. And that will be what kills this show. They need to change the format so that the contestants have to answer ALL the questions and they're compensated only for the truthfully answered ones. As it is now, it serves the contestants to some extent but just teases us with what could've been. And you must use a DVR to skip by all the stupid melodramatic pauses and chit chat.
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2-26-2008 @ 4:17PM
Sandra said...
I like the show but, I also hate when the contestent stops at the $100,000.00. I also believe they should have to answer all the questions. They know going in to it that it is going to get uncomfortable. How truthful is the show?
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